On 1^st October, partners from across the Midlands region welcomed Professor Sir John Bell to explore the considerable Life Science strengths and opportunities present that can support current and future efforts of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy. Sir John is Regius Professor of Medicine at University of Oxford, Chair of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research, author of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy and lead on the UK’s Life Sciences Sector Deal.

The morning and afternoon sessions, hosted at the University of Leicester and chaired by Professor David Adams (Chair of Midlands Health Innovation and Dean of Medicine at the University of Birmingham), were attended by senior representatives from across the Midlands’ Life Science sector including local industry, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Universities, NIHR Biomedical Research Centres, Midlands Innovation, Medilink Midlands and the Academic Health Science Networks, as well as the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. These focused discussions highlighted opportunities to deliver key current and future elements of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy from within the Midlands region. Professor Sir John Bell was also taken on a tour of the new state-of-the-art regional Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility available at the University, one of many major recent investments which are transforming regional translational research capabilities.

Professor Adams said “This was a great opportunity to showcase to Sir John the Midlands’ research excellence, clinical capability and industrial base emphasising the collaborative nature of our partnerships. He emphasised that to be successful the Life Science Industrial Strategy requires strong regional partnerships, such as Midlands Health Innovation, to deliver national and global impact in the Life Sciences sector. We believe we are on track to do this.”